R.U.R. A Torrent of Light
World premiere
Composed by Nicole Lizée | Libretto by Nicolas Billon | Directed by Michael Hidetoshi Mori
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WINNER of SIX 2022 Dora Mavor Moore Awards!
Sci-fi opera set in the near future
The fictional tech company R.U.R., founded by couple Helena and Dom, dominates the A.I. software market and powers the now-ubiquitous androids that serve their human owners.
As Dom becomes more focused on growing R.U.R’s profits, Helena’s creative research leads to an unexpected technological breakthrough that pits the couples’ visions squarely against each other. They’ve reached a turning point for humanity, but is humanity ready?
Inspired by Karel Čapek’s 1920’s science-fiction play Rossum’s Universal Robots (which introduced the word “robot” to the English language), composer Nicole Lizée’s and writer Nicolas Billon’s R.U.R. A Torrent of Light grapples with one of our generation’s most fascinating questions.
In collaboration with OCAD University
This stunning new opera combines dance, beautiful multimedia design, a chamber orchestra including 100 instruments creating a unique electronica-classical sound, and wearable technology created with OCAD University’s Social Body Lab, to create an immersive and unforgettable science-fiction experience.
Tickets
The following seating sections are available for this performance. Tickets are from $10 to $100. All tickets are subject to a $5 transaction fee.
- Orchestra Centre
- Orchestra Sides
- Orchestra Rear
- Balcony (standing room)
Comfort and safety
- Masks are mandatory
- Surtitles are available
- Strobe-like patterned lighting will be used in this performance
- There are occasional sounds at loud volume
- Age guidance PG-13
- The show is 2 hours including a 20 minute intermission
- Latecomers will not be admitted, we recommend you arrive no later than 15 minutes before the show start time
The Great Hall at OCAD University
Level 2, beside the Anniversary Gallery
Reviews
breath-taking
Lizée’s score is a revelation. It uses off-beat rhythms and glitchy synthesizers to create a robotic soundscape that is at once beautiful and terrifying — just like A.I. itself.
Il’ya tous les ingredients de l’opera avec ses grands drames, passion qui se dechaines, tous ca dans un univers mental entre Frankenstein e les cycles des robots de Isaac Asimov / It has all the ingredients of opera with great drama, unleashed passion, all this in a mental universe between Frankenstein and the robot cycles of Isaac Asimov
a musically brilliant and thought provoking theatre piece
a visually and aurally compelling production that successfully marries opera and automation, and encourages us to look into the eyes of our creations to try to find the best in ourselves
Media & Photos
Creators
Nicole Lizée
ComposerNicolas Billon
LibrettistMichael Hidetoshi Mori
DirectorCast
Krisztina Szabó
HelenaPeter Barrett
DomScott Belluz
[Alex]Danielle Buonaiuto
[Helena]Micah Schroeder
[Quinn]Alex Hetherington
[Riley]Maeve Palmer
SopranoAnnie Ramos
SopranoJennifer Routhier
Mezzo-SopranoSofi Gudiño
DancerKatherine Semchuk
DancerEmily Spearing
DancerBrayden Jamil Cairns
DancerCreative Team
Gregory Oh
Music DirectorJaime Martino
ChoreographerCameron Anderson
Set DesignerJoanna Yu
Costume DesignerMichelle Ramsay
Lighting DesignerDebashis Sinha
Sound DesignerCameron Davis
Projection DesignerKeith Klassen
Assistant DirectorRodney Diverlus
Associate ChoreographerJulia Cosentino
Assistant ChoreographerJuliane Gallant
Women in Musical Leadership Assistant ConductorKate Hartman
Wearable Technology Designer, Social Body Lab at OCAD UniversityNick Puckett
Wearable Technology Designer, Social Body Lab at OCAD UniversityAdam Tindale
Wearable Technology Designer, Social Body Lab at OCAD University- Caroline Hollway: Producer
- Adrien Whan: Technical Director
- Ryan Wilson: Technical Manager (Set, props stage)
- Alessia Urbani: Head of Wardrobe
- Alannah Dzijacky: Props Coordinator
- Camille Rogers: Surtitlist
- Dustyn Wales: Stage Manager (February ‘22 Workshop & World Premiere)
- Daniel Oulton: Stage Manager (December ‘21 Workshop)
- Jordan Guetter: Assistant Stage Manager
- Conner Bustamante: Apprentice Stage Manager
- Alex Gilbert : Running Wardrobe